ABUJA – The Nnmadi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Monday resumed normal operation after a 30-hour closure of its runway in the second and last phase of its maintenance work.
Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, the Deputy General Manager, Corporate Communications Department of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Yakubu said that the runway was officially opened for operations at 6 a.m.
She said all domestic and international flights had resumed operations as scheduled for landing and take-off at the airport.
“Lufthansa Airline and British Airways have landed and taken off this morning (Monday) after the maintenance work.
“The airport is busy now; all the terminals are full, especially the domestic section where we have the Arik and Dana booking areas.
She said that the essence of the maintenance work at the runway was to ensure safety.
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“This is the last phase of the maintenance work at the runway, the Abuja airport will remain open to operations,’’ Yakubu said.
NAN reports that human and vehicular movement into the airport was heavy, with people picking and dropping off travellers.
Mr Niyi Adedayo, a businessman, told NAN that the closure of the airport affected turnover of his business.
“Because of the closure I could not meet an appointment scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday because my flight was rescheduled.
“ I got the information on the plan to close the airport three days to the closure and my appointment had already been booked two weeks earlier.
“In future, decisions like this should be given at least a month’s publicity and notification to enable intending passengers reschedule their programmes,’’ Adebayo said.
Mrs Joyce Okafor, another traveller, told NAN that the maintenance work was a welcomed development and should be encouraged.
“It has been stressful for me because I am with my three children, and need to travel to Lagos for holiday.
“The airport hall is full to capacity and one cannot even move freely to make inquiries about the airlines.
“Even though the closure of the airport affected me, the maintenance work on the runway is to ensure safety so I don’t have a problem with that,’’ Okofor said. (NAN)
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